At first I found the introduction to the topic well done. It recognized that it was not just one thing that caused the "Great War" but various factors and by going many decades prior to the initial assassination by Gavrilo Principe, a Bosnian. However, here is already where things become muddled.
First of all this documentary was sponsored by the Serbian government. It is clear that there is an agenda behind this documentary. Naturally, as I saw the coat of arms of Serbia show up I thought "perhaps it won't be biased? Let me go in with an open mind" but it was not meant to be. Gavrilo Principe was born in Bosnia and Herzogovina, yes, but he was from a family of Serbs, the Jovicevic clan, originally from Montenegro prior to the 18th century. Do you see where this is going? The history of Serbia is intermingled richly with the cultures - and what are now nations as well - from various areas of what was once the Ottoman Empire. They are all interwoven with one another.
So in this documentary they outright say Gavrilo was a Bosnian and it was clearly Bosnian hatred of the Austrians (not so much the Hungarians) that drove them to what they did. The Black Hand (or Unification or Death (Ujedinjenje ili smrt)) is mentioned as well, but briefly and their very intricate relations with the Serbian government at the time is overlooked, stating that the Black Hand simply was against the government in Serbia at that point in time. However, the Black Hand had members in many government positions. After the Coup d'Etat where the King Alexander I and his wife were murdered, many of the militarist elite and a wide variety of officers were ushered into governmental positions. A martial government took over and it's tendrils stretched from Serbia outward into Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Greece.
Yet, in this documentary big, bad and evil Germany was the main reason for the First World War! The focus from the middle of the documentary onward simply goes up against Germany and focuses on their meddling and aggressiveness. Whilst Wilhem II might not have been the best diplomat in considering all the varying alliances to the best of Germany's power, they were not the sole reason for the armament race that was encouraged by various colonial empires vying for power and fearing the power from Continental Europe. It is addressed, yes, but the French colonialism in Northern Africa is seen as unquestionable. The Germans cannot meddle in Morocco, but the French can? One reason is highlighted for the French and English entente but it does not address the fact that their alliance only came after colonial jostling in Egypt, where concessions ended up having to be made as well. Never mind that the United Kingdom's aggressive stance in many colonial aspects also triggered the arms war, as they would not give up any concessions and threatened war multiple times, especially in affairs over Africa. The bullies shan't be bullied.
The Documentary is an interesting Serbian viewpoint of the "Great War" and that is ideally what should be kept in mind when watching this. It was interesting, yes. But then again, how much can you talk about World War 1 and it's causes in just under two hours? There are so many aspects.
First of all this documentary was sponsored by the Serbian government. It is clear that there is an agenda behind this documentary. Naturally, as I saw the coat of arms of Serbia show up I thought "perhaps it won't be biased? Let me go in with an open mind" but it was not meant to be. Gavrilo Principe was born in Bosnia and Herzogovina, yes, but he was from a family of Serbs, the Jovicevic clan, originally from Montenegro prior to the 18th century. Do you see where this is going? The history of Serbia is intermingled richly with the cultures - and what are now nations as well - from various areas of what was once the Ottoman Empire. They are all interwoven with one another.
So in this documentary they outright say Gavrilo was a Bosnian and it was clearly Bosnian hatred of the Austrians (not so much the Hungarians) that drove them to what they did. The Black Hand (or Unification or Death (Ujedinjenje ili smrt)) is mentioned as well, but briefly and their very intricate relations with the Serbian government at the time is overlooked, stating that the Black Hand simply was against the government in Serbia at that point in time. However, the Black Hand had members in many government positions. After the Coup d'Etat where the King Alexander I and his wife were murdered, many of the militarist elite and a wide variety of officers were ushered into governmental positions. A martial government took over and it's tendrils stretched from Serbia outward into Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Greece.
Yet, in this documentary big, bad and evil Germany was the main reason for the First World War! The focus from the middle of the documentary onward simply goes up against Germany and focuses on their meddling and aggressiveness. Whilst Wilhem II might not have been the best diplomat in considering all the varying alliances to the best of Germany's power, they were not the sole reason for the armament race that was encouraged by various colonial empires vying for power and fearing the power from Continental Europe. It is addressed, yes, but the French colonialism in Northern Africa is seen as unquestionable. The Germans cannot meddle in Morocco, but the French can? One reason is highlighted for the French and English entente but it does not address the fact that their alliance only came after colonial jostling in Egypt, where concessions ended up having to be made as well. Never mind that the United Kingdom's aggressive stance in many colonial aspects also triggered the arms war, as they would not give up any concessions and threatened war multiple times, especially in affairs over Africa. The bullies shan't be bullied.
The Documentary is an interesting Serbian viewpoint of the "Great War" and that is ideally what should be kept in mind when watching this. It was interesting, yes. But then again, how much can you talk about World War 1 and it's causes in just under two hours? There are so many aspects.